Combination exercise and amusement device



p 1968 w. G. STEUBE 3,402,504

COMBINATION EXERCISE AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 20, 1966 INVENTOR William G. SfieuM BY 5% 7M and ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,402,504 COMBINATION EXERCISE AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE William G. Steube, 513 Heather Circle, Highland Springs, Va. 23075 Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 543,938 9 Claims. (Cl. 4659) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amusement and therapeutic device comprising a shaft having a spinner fixed centrally thereto. Two bars are attached to the shaft, each by a pair of cords connected with the bars in spaced relation therealong, and with the shaft, at respective sides of the spinner. In one use two operators each grasp a respective bar and by coordinated pulls thereon, cause the spinner to rotate rapidly so that the cords are alternately unwound from, and rewound upon the shaft. The invention is useful in many ways as a toy and also for therapeutic purposes. Various forms of spinners are contemplated, including those making a sound in response to spin.

This invention relates to a combined toy, amusement and exercising device.

It is the chief purpose of the invention to provide an apparatus which is attractive and entertaining in use. especially for children, but equally entertaining for adults.

Another object is to provide a device which is highly useful and versatile in affording therapeutic exercise in attractive, entertaining and effective form.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character stated, which is easily and inexpensively constructed of readily obtainable materials and operated for its intended purposes with a minimum of practice.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art, after a study of the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing the invention in use as a toy;

FIGURE 2 is a detail plan view to an enlarged scale, of the device equipped with a different type of spinner;

FIGURE 3 is a detail perspective view, partly in section, showing still another form of spinner; and

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken in a plane identified by the line 44, FIGURE 2.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1, a spinner 1 which may be of wood, metal or plastic, is shown in the form of a round fiat disk and which may be brightly colored. A shaft, rod or tube 2 of wood or metal, such as a length of aluminum tubing, passes centrally through the disk with a snug fit and is secured thereto by any suitable means such as adhesive.

A first handle bar 3 of wood, metal or plastic, solid or tubular is connected by cords 4 and 5 with shaft 2. These cords may be of nylon to provide great strength and long life. Noting FIGURE 2, cord 4 is attached at one end to bar 3 as at 6, by passing the cord through a diametral hole in the bar and knotting. Likewise cord 5 is attached to the bar at 7 in a similar way. The points of attachment at 6 and 7 are spaced longitudinally along the bar and at equal distances from the center point thereof. The spacing may be, for example, ten inches. The bars themselves are conveniently about 28 to 30 inches in length of, say, one-inch dowel rod.

Cord 4 passes loosely through a diametral hole in shaft 2 and has its other end attached as at 11 to a sec- 0nd bar 8 which may be a duplicate of bar 3. Likewise, cord 5 passes through a second diametral hole in shaft 2 and has its other end attached to bar 8 as indicated at 12. The spacing between attachment points 6, 7, and 11, 12, may be the same or, as shown upon FIGURE 2, the points 11, 12 may be spaced a little farther apart than points 6, 7. Each cord may pass loosely through its diametral hole in the shaft or, alternatively may be fixedly attached at its mid-point to the shaft. Alternatively, cord 4, for example, may be in two discrete sections with the inner end of each section secured to the shaft at closely adjacent points.

In use, the disk is rotated a few turns to wind the cords on and about the shaft. Then, in the manner of use depicted upon FIGURE 1, two persons grasp the ends of bars 3 and 8, respectively and each exerts a pull in unison, thus causing the disk to begin rotation. When the cords are fully extended, the momentum thus imparted to the disk causes it to continue to rotate with the result that, as the players reduce their pull upon the bars, the cords are substantially fully rewound upon the shaft. By again increasing their pull in unison upon the bars, the disk is decelerated, stopped, and its direction of rotation is reversed. As the players continue their pull upon the bars the disk again attains a high speed of rotation.

The action may be continued indefinitely. With a small amount of practice the players become adept at so adjusting the forces they exert upon the bars that the disk is brought to a standstill at the instant the bars are just short of the disk. Otherwise, one or both bars engage the periphery of the disk and brake it to a rapid stop.

The continued movement of the arms of the players forwardly and rearwardly, in connection with the spinning disk, form an attractive and pleasing game of muscular co-ordination and calls :for a considerable amount of exercise and skill. Where the cords are sufiiciently long the players may have to walk toward and from each other to maintain the disk spinning, thereby adding to the exercise and required skill. Disks of varied colors add to the attractiveness.

The invention is equally entertaining when used by one person. In such case bar 3, for example, may be attached to a wall or other fixed support while bar 8 is grasped by the user. The manner of operation is the same as has been previously described, but the single player has to move farther during each cycle of operation as the disk advances toward and then recedes from the wall to which one of the bars it is attached.

FIGURES 2 and 4 show a modified form of disk generally indentified at 13. The disk or spinner comprises two sheets 14 and 15 of flexible material such as thin plywood or metal, connected at their peripheral edges as by adhesive or soldering. The sheets are centrally apertured to receive rod 2 with a snug fit. A sleeve 16 through which the shaft or rod passes, maintains the central portions of the sheets in spaced relation. The sheets are warped or distorted as shown, into the general form of a propeller and each is provided with a multiplicity of holes 17 and 18 which are preferably disposed in ornamental geometrical relation about the axis of the shaft. A disk of this type, when rotating, acts to create a whistling sound in much the same way as the sound created by blowing across the end of a tube. This adds to the attractiveness in use. FIG- URE 4 shows the internal hub construction wherein sleeve 16 is fixed to shaft 2 and its ends are secured to or in contact with the respective sheets to thereby integrally unite the parts.

.At FIGURE 3 I have shown another form of spinner generally indicated at 19. Here, shaft 2 passes centrally through the hub of a propeller-like device 20 and consisting of a pair of blades having their tips attached at diametrically opposite points to the interior of aring 21.

The blades of the propeller are preferably hollow as indicated at 22, and are provided with holes 23 for the same purpose as holes 17, 18 in the species of FIGURE 2. Numerous other forms and shapes of spinner are contemplated. It is also contemplated that the spinners may be detachably secured to shaft 2, as by set screws, for example, and that each instrument as sold may include a number of dilferent types or kinds of spinners each interchangeably attached to the shaft.

The invention is useful as a therapeutic device to promote needed exercise and muscular co-ordination. Several ways of use have been described. In another use the operator may lie on the floor or in bed. One bar such as 8 is secured overhead, as to the ceiling. The spinner may be thus kept going by the operator as he raises and lowers his arms, to thus provide both exercise and entertainment. In another manner of use the single operator stands on one bar such as 8 to hold it to the floor or ground and operates the spinner by grasping the ends of the second bar, raising it and then allowing it to descend as the momentum of the spinner effects rewinding of the cords ab out the shaft. Two people may use the device while sitting in chairs facing each other. Many other manners of use are possible and will readily occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing disclosure.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An amusement and exercising device comprising, a shaft, a spinner secured to said shaft centrally thereof, first and second cords each attached between its ends to said shaft at opposite sides of said spinner, respectively, and means secured to the ends of said cords, whereby the application of a force to said means, to exert a pull in opposite directions on the respective ends of said cord, when Wound upon the shaft and spinner, and momentum in said spinner when rotating, causing said cords to rewind upon said shaft, when said pull is released.

'1 l The'device of claim lg said last-named means comprising first and second bars, each having the respective ends of said cords attached thereto at points longitudinally spaced therealong, the ends of said bars comprising handles to be grasped by users.

3. The device of claim 1,.said spinner comprising a generally circulardisk having an aperture through 1 its center, said shaft having a; snug Jfit within said aperture.

4. The device of claim '1, said spinnercomprising first and second sheets of material-of regular geometrical contour and secured together'at and along meeting peripheral edges, and a spacer sleeve centrally apertured to receive said shaft and holding said sheets spaced apart at their centers to form a hollow housing, said sleeve being secured to said shaftfi' e e 5. The device of claim 4, said sheets being of flexible material and warped to form said housing into propellerlike shape.

6. The device of claim 5, there being holes in and through said sheets to thereby create sound by and in response to rapid rotation of said shaft and spinner.

7. The device of claim 1, said spinner comprising a hub having a central aperture through which said shaft passes with a snug fit, and a plurality of propeller blades each attached to said hub in equiangularly spaced relation thereabout.

8. The device of claim 7, and a ring encircling said blades and secured to the tips thereof.

9. The device of claim 7, said blades being hollow, there being at least one aperture in each said blade opening into the hollow interior thereof.

FOREIGN PATENTS 382,806 12/1907 France.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

